Why you need to be a stubborn Christian

Did your parents ever tell you not to be so stubborn? When it comes to faith, don't take their advice.

Do you think you are a stubborn person? To be stubborn means to flat-out refuse to move or change your opinion. Often it is not good to be stubborn. But when it comes to your trust, belief, dependence on, and faith in Jesus, God wants you to be absolutely stubborn. Let me show you what I mean;

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22)

By standing firm you will gain life (Luke 21:19)

… continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel (Colossians 1:22-23a)

I think you get the picture! God wants you to stubbornly put your faith in Jesus, to stand firm in this belief and not move anywhere.

Now I guess God tells us this because it will not be easy to be stubborn.

Why is it hard to be a stubborn Christian?

Here's a few reasons why it can be so hard to stubbornly hold on to Jesus:

1) Satan is a mighty cunning tempter and he will stop at nothing to get you to chuck in the towel on the whole Jesus thing. Stubbornly resist him (1 Peter 5:9)
2) The world at times can look like an attractive alternative to Jesus
3) Some people will hate you for being a Christian. They might make it really hard for you to hold on to being a Christian (Matthew 10:22)
4) Some churches will even teach you dodgy stuff about Jesus that can blow your faith around (Ephesians 4:14)
5) Our hearts still secretly (and not so secretly) long to be our own boss and not have to submit to Jesus

So what can we do?

There are things we can do to become more stubborn Christians:

1) Intentionally pursuing and practicing truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, God’s Word and prayer. Putting on God's armour can help you be stubborn (Ephesians 6:10-18). You need to intentionally, daily, stubbornly 'get dressed' in this armour to stand again Satan and his schemes.
2) Stubbornly give your life over to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). This is the work that counts, that lasts, that is eternal. Keep serving God by investing into the lives of others.
3) Follow other Christians, remembering you are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:17-4:1). Our real hope and our real home is in heaven. Keeping looking for and longing for this.

The temptation will always be to move on, or move away, from Jesus.

Don’t try to be stubborn in your own strength, otherwise you are destined to fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Rather, rely on God to make you stubborn (2 Corinthians 1:21). And remember, God wants you to be absolutely stubborn.